Las Cruces man suspected of beating, strangling ex-girlfriend

LAS CRUCES - A man suspected of beating his ex-girlfriend and holding the woman against her will has been arrested, police said.

Manuel O. Chavez, 25, was charged with aggravated battery against a household member, false imprisonment, battery against a household member and criminal damage to property, according to the Las Cruces Police Department.

Early Tuesday morning, several neighbors called 911 to report hearing a woman screaming for help at an apartment on the 2100 block of South Espina Street, police said. Officers arrived and determined that a domestic disturbance was occurring in the woman’s apartment. Officers detained Chavez without further incident.

Police said Chavez went to his ex-girlfriend’s home shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday and became upset when the woman reminded him that he no longer lived there. A verbal argument between the two quickly escalated and became physical.

Police said Chavez punched his ex-girlfriend several times and strangled her to the point she lost consciousness. At some point, the woman armed herself with a small kitchen knife, fled the home and went to a nearby apartment seeking help. A witness indicated that he saw Chavez grab the woman and forcefully take her back to her apartment.

Police said the woman had visible injuries to her face, head, neck and arms. Her injuries are not life-threatening.

Chavez was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center, where he was initially held without bond.